World Cup Hero

The story of Argentina - Brazil

De meest legendarische voetbalrivaliteit ter wereld. Pelé versus Maradona, Ronaldo versus Messi. Geen rivaliteit komt hier bij in de buurt.

Argentina vs Brazil compared

Argentina — chances and analysis

Reigning champions, world number one, with Messi on his farewell tour — it's hard to think of more reasons to label Argentina the top favourite. Behind Messi stands a team that wins without him too: Martínez intimidates keepers, Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández control any midfield, Álvarez and Almada find the goals. Group J with Algeria, Austria and Jordan is a winning formality. The question isn't whether Argentina reach the quarter-finals, but whether Scaloni keeps them fresh until the final. A title defence would place Messi alongside Pelé and above Maradona. A semi-final is the minimum; anything less is failure.

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Brazil — chances and analysis

For the first time in the modern era, no Brazilian on the bench: Carlo Ancelotti coaches the Seleção. That alone is a mini-revolution in a country where 'jeitinho brasileiro' trumps European discipline. But Ancelotti knows Vinícius and Rodrygo inside out from Real Madrid, and he brings something Brazil have been missing for twenty years: calm under pressure. The attack is solid — Vinícius, Raphinha, Rodrygo, Endrick, plus Neymar if fit. Defence remains the eternal question. Morocco in Group C is anything but a formality (they beat Spain in 2022). A sixth title — first since 2002 — would set everything right. Brazil are always candidates; just no longer favourites.

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